International squid buyers warn that legal shifts in Chile and Peru jeopardize giant squid sustainability
Legislative initiatives developed without scientific backing will increase pressure on the jumbo flying squid fishery
Participating companies of the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) Global Squid Supply Chain Roundtable (SR) are publicly expressing concern that legislative
initiatives being discussed in Chile and Peru could lead to significant increases in fishing effort, without robust scientific evaluation to support those increases.
The jumbo flying squid fishery (Dosidicus gigas) is the most important cephalopod fishery in the global market. The JFS fishery supports thousands of fishers, value
chain workers, exporters, processors, and buyers who depend on its long-term availability and sustainability for their livelihoods, food security, and social welfare.
In recent years, management measures in both Chile and Peru have strengthened the control of fishing activities, improved scientific knowledge about the resource,
and promoted more responsible use of the fishery. The SR members acknowledged this progress: “As buyers committed to responsible sourcing and the sustainability of
marine resources, we recognize the significant progress achieved in recent years thanks to the joint efforts of fisheries managers, research institutes, nongovernmental organizations, and fishery sector representatives in both Chile and Peru.”
However, the SR participants expressed concern about current legislative discussions in both countries, including:
- In Chile, the Squid Law (Ley de la Jibia) established a model based on selective fishing gear such as jigging and handlines, prioritizing the sustainability of the resource and guaranteeing employment for artisanal communities. The discussion of a new bill in Bulletin No. 18.173-21 would allow the reintroduction of industrial trawling in specific areas of the country.
- In Peru, the new national fishery management plan was approved in 2025 and a vessel formalization process, completed in 2023, supported the registration of around 3,500 vessels. However, a new Law No. 14212/2025-CR proposes to register 2,000 new vessels built outside the framework of the law. This would contribute to a considerable increase in fishing effort, at a time when the fishery has already captured 83.27% of the 2026 quota.
The future stability of the fishery depends on continued effective management measures that balance the economic and social needs of fishing communities with
conservation of the resource. Any increase in fishing effort that is not backed by a robust scientific evaluation generates uncertainty for the entire supply chain and
jeopardizes its ability to maintain stable and sustainable markets in the long term.
Reacting to these proposed changes, the Global Squid SR participants expressed their “full support for artisanal fishers and all actors who have worked for years to strengthen the responsible management of this fishery. Likewise, we call upon the authorities of Chile and Peru to maintain the management decisions adopted in recent years and avoid measures that imply an increase in fishing pressure on the resource.”
The SR concluded: “We firmly believe that the sustainability of the jumbo flying squid is a shared objective that benefits all actors in the value chain. Protecting the
progress achieved will ensure the future of the fishery, the stability of international markets, and the livelihoods of the communities that depend on this resource.”